26 Plants that Attract Ladybugs

Learn about the plants that attract ladybugs, ladybugs are one of the most beneficial insects that much that you should invite them in your garden to repel pests away.

Ladybugs are the symbol of organic gardening and are the most beloved insects of gardeners and farmers who do not use pesticides. Ladybugs are friendly insects they feed mainly on aphids, scales, and their eggs, they also eat mealybugs and other parasitic pests like white flies.

In their life cycle, it is calculated that they can feed on more than 5,000 prey. Lady bugs also eat pollen of a few plants so if you want to attract them to your garden, these plants are most recommended. Here we’ve listed 26 plants that attract ladybugs in the garden and you can grow a few of these plants to lure them in abundance.

1. Garlic

Elephant garlic flower

Garlic flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects like ladybugs. Besides this garlic repels pests and insects like flies and mosquitoes. Garlic is easy to cultivate and not a fussy plant.

2. Geranium

Ladybugs are attracted towards geranium. It is one of the hardiest, low maintenance and appreciated plant that you should grow in your garden. Scented geranium also repels away mosquitoes and other bothering insects and attracts moths and butterflies.

3. Dill

This feathery leaf herb is not only used to flavor the recipes but also to attract pollinators and ladybugs. When grown with tomatoes, dill repels tomato hornworms. You can grow dill with vegetables and flowers. If growing in containers, remember to grow dill in deep pot as it forms long roots.

4. Bachelor’s Button

Also called “Blue Button” or “Corn Flower” this plant belongs to the aster family. Its eye-catching blue flowers and pollen lure ladybugs. Bachelor’s button flowers also come in pink and white color. These American wild flowers are easy to grow and low maintenance.

5. Calendula

Calendula also belongs to the “Aster” family, this flowering herb is renowned for its soothing properties. Calendula flowers bloom in summer (in winter in tropics), these flowers are edible. Calendula is easy to grow and one of the flowers that attract ladybugs, they love to eat its pollen. You can even grow it in a pot and it looks beautiful in balcony railing planters.

Sweet alyssum are pretty flowers that bloom in clusters. This mildly fragrant annual is preferred by ladybugs. Growing sweet alyssum is easy once the temperature is around 60 – 65 F (15 – 18 C).

7. Cilantro

Cilantro is a sweet and intensely aromatic herb, used aggressively in South Asian cuisines. You can grow cilantro in your garden, its smell attract ladybugs.

8. Parsley

Parsley is the most common herb, it is really an easy to grow plant. Like all other umbel shaped plants it draws ladybird towards itself.

9. Queen Anne’s Lace

It is also known as “Wild Carrot” or “Bishop’s Lace”, queen Anne’s lace is a beneficial herbaceous plant. It looks similar to poison hemlock, its roots are edible like carrot. However, wild carrot is declared a noxious weed by the United States department of agriculture but it attracts wasps and bees and ladybugs.

It is called butterfly weed due to its ability to attract butterflies. This native American wild plant draws butterflies due to bright color of its flowers and nectar. It also lures lady beetles and other pollinators.

Now, how about a list of native plants that attract aphid enemies? Not just lady beetles but all the other aphid eaters: syrphid flies, Aphidoletes, parasitic wasps, lacewings, predatory stink bugs, etc. All of them together do a better job than lady beetles all alone. The problem is most people don’t notice them because they are rather plain and not as colorful as lady beetles. Some stay out of sight and feed only at night. All these insects are extremely important aphid enemies. Most of the aphid enemies I mentioned benefit from a variety of native plants.

Hops plants also attract ladybugs – they like to lay their eggs on them! I have two hops plants specifically for ladybugs. The eggs are difficult to see because of the massive amounts of leaves, but when the sun is bright on the plants you will find ladybugs. If you look underneath the leaves, you might even see the clusters of eggs. Please don’t spray the plants, ladybugs will appear and lay their eggs. Sincerely, Ruth